The meaning of Ash Wednesday

Answer 1

The seventh Wednesday before Easter and the first day of Lent, on which many Christians receive a cross from ashes on the forehead as a token of penitence and mortality. It is the beginning of lent. Ashes from blessed palms are mixed with Holy water and a cross is marked on the persons forehead. "Ashes to Ashes and Dust to Dust" this is where the body came from and this is where it will return. The Soul (essence of a person) leaves the body and becomes united with God through our death to this world.

Answer 2

The first day of Lent; -- so called from a custom in the Roman Catholic church of putting ashes, on that day, upon the foreheads of penitents.

Answer 3

Ashes are black and catholic people lke the colour black This is obviously a very young responder. The exact date of origin of Ash Wednesday is not known. There is documentation of the celebration dating to the 8th century, but there is also some information which suggests the custom dates back to even earlier than that. It was not observed as "Ash Wednesday" until sometime in the 11th century. The modern interpretation of the ashes is to remind us of our mortality and that as we were formed from dust, so to dust we will return. They also remind us to be repentant of our sins. Check out this web site: americancatholic.org

Answer 4

I'm leaving the original answer below the hyphens, but it's worth noting that Ash Wednesday does not have biblical origins. Ash Wednesday, like many Christian traditions practiced in the U.S. and Europe are actually a hybrid of Pagan/Christian beliefs.

In any case, the term may have originated in Northern Europe where the God Wodin was symbolically protected by having the ashes of King Sigurd put on his head. It's worth mentioning that Norse warriors would also get ashes smeared on their heads to protect them in battle.

The calendar day Wednesday comes from the God Wodin as well. This would describe Ash Wednesday's origins (Ash Wodin).

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Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent, when Jesus went to the desert and spent 46 days being tempted by Satin. In Ancient biblical times, to put ash on ones self was a sign of sorrow of repentance for sin. Lent is a time when Christians are supposed to cleanse themselves of sin, so all of ones sins that one committed outside of Lent are to be forgiven as you enter it. Usually, the priest burns the palm fronds from the previous year's Palm Sunday and puts the ashes on one's head in the shape of a cross.

Answer 5

this is not a comedy website this is educational

Answer 6

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. It is a day of penance and fasting.